The hair erector muscles need exercising like any muscle in order to work efficiently.
Rugging a clipped horse.
But you don t have to dread clipping your horse.
Horses are mammals and they maintain their internal body temperature at around 38 c through a well developed mechanism known as thermoregulation which has developed through evolution so that the body temperature is maintained within a narrow range.
Horses that are clipped under the weather or elderly for example will require more rugging through the colder winter months than good doers native breeds and those that are unclipped.
Over rugging or putting a rug on too soon can compromise a horse s ability to do this.
Don t tie them up to rug if they sidle up to you when the rug appears put it on.
Mine are natives with bib clips and live out at 1000 feet.
Clipping is one of those jobs that many horse owners despise it s messy time consuming and too often can be stressful for both horse and owner.
Before putting a rug or a heavier one on your horse consider all the many variables.
First the science bit.
The science of rugging horses what to use when.
Every horse is different and should be treated as an individual case.
Rugging at this time of year is particularly difficult as the weather changes from day to day and often hour to hour.
If they walk off twice don t put it on.
Take your horse s rug off everyday to check for sweat marks as this is an indicator you are over rugging him.
Rugging a horse just like us our horses feel the cold differently.
They have a field shelter and some drystone walls but exposed to the north.
They only get the chance to get rugged if its windy wet and cold.
You can put a mediumweight on him on a chilly morning and then the sun comes out and he is too hot.
A basic guide to rugging horses.
If you know how to use the clippers correctly and keep the horse calm and relaxed throughout the experience you can end up with a horse that looks like he s been to the groomers rather than.
The horse s muscles can also develop cramps if hot muscles get cold too quickly.
Horses that are regularly stabled or clipped will be more vulnerable to chills than those that are used to living out and may easily overheat if wearing too many clothes.
Older horses young horses thin horses and clipped horses will need rugs first for most horses unless clipped and living out 24 7 rugs should not be considered before temperatures overnight begin dipping towards 5 10 c.
